* Tuesday, 9:15 a.m., After the Funeral *

The wall of fog has lost ground in the hours since the sun rose. Much thinner, the trees are almost visible with no major loss of definition. They are still draped with wisps of the fog, though, still reminding Max of what the future has in store for her.

Shrouded but present. If only my visions had half as much information...

'The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is.'

Seriously? 'Really poor timing on that one, Warren.'

'...Sorry.'

The quartet head out past the dorms towards the cafeteria, once again trying to satisfy their individual hungers. Sadly, breakfast at school is not going to remedy that for them.

'Pancakes and no syrup. Eggs and no bacon. Oatmeal and no fruit. Are we savages?'

Gotta cool Victoria's heals. 'Calm down. If you really are going to complain so much, lets just head out for breakfast.'

'Yeah, let's hit up the diner.'

Batting a thousand, Warren.

Kate rescues Max from explaining. 'Um, Warren? That's where Joyce works...'

'Oh.' And then- 'OH. Crap, sorry Max.'

'N-no worries. I just- I'll have some yogurt. You three go have a real breakfast.'

Not that I'm going to have much of an appetite now.

Kate grabs her arm. 'No. Let's get some food and eat.' She guides Max to the serving line. 'And, please, eat something more than yogurt.'

I'm not hungry-

On reflex, the boil-over from yesterday upsets Max's equilibrium.

No. They care about you. Don't be a bitch.

'Okay. How about a banana too..?'

Kate eyes her, narrowed eyes but a smirk dancing on her lips. 'Fine. But don't complain to me later when you're still hungry.'

Food attained. Seats found. Meal begun.

Whispers and side-glances from nearby tables.

'What is going on with everyone?'

Warren fields the question. 'They are wondering why a nerd like me, quiet girls like you and Max, and social queen Victoria, are doing socializing like we're all buddy-buddy.'

'Oh...'

'Don't worry. The only reputation that will suffer is Victoria's. Hell, I probably got two levels just by being seen with three women at once.'

'Har-har, Warren. But don't worry Kate. That's the sort of sacrifice I'll make for friendship.'

The conversation is low-key and halting for the quartet. Without the pressure of time travel, no one seems to know what to say.

It is going to be hard for us all to get to a friendly place. If we're all meant to be friends.

Warren makes a math joke. Victoria casts an insult that would have been funny if you realize she's sarcastic. Max tries to break some more ice between them all with talk about music.

Are we just... business?

Everyone gets quiet. Chewing and distant conversations.

Is the only thread me and my problems?

Kate pulls out her phone and starts giggling. Leaning over to Victoria to show off what's so funny. It makes the trip around.

The simplest of things. A kitten in an unfortunate situation.

Laughter quietly issues around the table.

And Victoria restarts the conversation.

'I can't believe they ran out of syrup.' She shovels in another spoonful of oatmeal, trying to finish before the bland taste catches up with her. 'Like, do they even realize how much sugar I need to get going in the morning?'

Warren takes a sip of juice to clear his throat. 'At least the eggs weren't cold today.'

A sip of something black and bitter for Max. 'Maybe they'll get the coffee right some day too.'

A discussion around the table, focusing mostly on classes and school gossip, kicks in.

At least we don't have more awkward silence.

Taylor and Courtney come over.

And there goes any chance of silence.

'What's up bitches?'

'Taylor...'

'Sorry Katie.'

Wait, what? Is she, like, part of the in crowd now?

Victoria gives Taylor a light smack to the shoulder as she sits while Courtney slides in next to Kate.

'So, what is up? Feels like I haven't seen you in days, Tori.'

'What? We were hanging yesterday.'

'The caf and class don't count.' She eyes Max across the table. 'If I didn't know any better I'd think you were shrieking us.'

'Shirking.'

'Whatevs.' A distasteful smirk upsets her left cheek. 'I almost expect to hear about a new bad influence in your life.'

'Be cool, Tay-Tay.'

'Oh, we're cool. Right, Court?'

'Yup.'

Whoa. Some serious Mean Girl shit going on here.

Victoria tries to step back into her Queen Bee role. 'Look Taylor. If you have a problem you can come to me later-'

'Later when? When do you have free time these days? Last week, sure, we gave you space. But you start hanging out with...'

Max's anger rises a bit too high to remain silent anymore. 'You better watch what you say, Taylor.'

Courtney lets out a repressed giggle. 'Whoa, the hipster's got teeth. That has to be the biggest rise I've ever seen outta you Max.'

Taylor's smile is gone now, and the glint in her eye promises unpleasantness for Max. 'Tori, we do have a problem. But it isn't just you.' A finger jabs across the table. 'You are really pissing me off.'

What the hell did I do?

'I get the whole be-nice-to-Kate, it's not her fault Nathan went to jail. But the pariah, and now her geeky boyfriend? Seriously Tori, what's wrong with you?'

Not Kate's fault... what the fuck? This bitch-

'Seriously, what do you see in them? Sure, you could cheat off Warren. Katie's sweet but... you need to feel better, taking care of her? And Max does what, exactly? Shit, it's her bitchy ex-girlfriend that-'

'Taylor, you better walk away right now.'

Everyone turns to Warren.

'I don't know what you think you're doing right now but you better just walk away. You are making light of some really messed up stuff. I'm not going to let you talk like this to them any more. If you knew half of it...'

'What, Warren? I'd see what saints you are? Puh-lease. All this messed-up-stuff is because of that bitch blackmailing-'

Hands hit table as Warren stands, leaning in front of Victoria to stare directly into Taylor's eyes.

'Walk. Away. Now.' And a bit belated. 'Please.'

No more words to exchange. The quality of anger in Warren's voice sees to that. Both the girls leave as abruptly as they arrived.

And Warren deflates. His hands shake a little before calming.

Wow. He was... intense.

Looking around at the three girls still slack-jawed after his low-key outburst, a familiar sheepish grin appears before his cheeks burn red. 'Uh, sorry.'

Kate gets up and plants a kiss in the middle of his forehead. 'Don't be. That was amazing.'

If anything, he turns a deeper shade. 'I didn't mean... She just made me so... Victoria, I'm sorry how I treated your friends.'

The pixie blonde, quiet up to now, shakes out a negative before finding the words. 'Don't. You didn't say anything wrong. Really, it should have been me to put a stop to that... to her. I'm just- I'm the one who should be sorry.'

Max steps in before any more time can pass. 'Guys, you know I can always...' She makes a backwards motion with her two hands.

'No, let it be.'

'You sure Vicky?'

'Yeah.' With more confidence. 'Yeah. She was out of line and deserves a smack down. Hel- Uh, heck, I deserved it more than a few times.'

'Oh, stop saying that Vicky.'

'No Kate. I was a royal bi- uh, snob. I still am. And I always tried to own it. It just took a long times for me to see it, you know, from this side.'

'Vicky, don't be so down-'

'Nope. We had this conversation. If things change I'll let you know.'

Kate beams at her, then turns her light towards Max. 'Told you. No difference.'

Between acting and being good...

'Maybe you got me there.'

'Huh, what are you talking about?'

'Nothing Victoria. Don't worry.'

'Max, tell me now or I'll torture Kate later.'

'Be nice. It's just something Kate and I were discussing the other day.'

'About me.'

In an obviously false enthusiastic voice Kate butts in, derailing the conversation. 'HEY! Wasn't Warren so manly and attractive!'

Never change Kate.

'Wh-what? No I wasn't! I was just, like, angry. And stuff.'

Victoria, in spit of her desire to pursue the previous conversation, leaps on the Warren-embarrassment train. 'No, she's quite right. You were very manly, defending our honor.'

Like a lioness on a gazelle.

'Warren, your testosterone must be at an all-time high. You should go ask Brooke out. Right. Now.'

What?!

'What?!' Like a deflating balloon, Warren tries to fold in on himself. The stutter of his voice. The downturn of his eyes.

It's like he's a cartoon character.

'I- I don't know- Like, what do I even-'

'Just go up to her and ask her out.'

Victoria, subtle like a house fire.

'But, you know, I've never done that before.'

'Yeah you have. After class on Monday. You wanted to "go ape" at the drive in.'

Awe! He's going to do the anime thing where his nose bleeds and he falls over!

A mumbling issues from him.

'What did you say?'

'I guess you said no.'

Crap! Too far with the teasing!

'Well, Warren, I guess, uh, you realize by now I'm, you know. Kinda gay.'

Kinda a cop out, don't you think?

Don't start now.

Tell him how you really felt.

'I mean, before I really knew that, I- Well, I always just thought of you as a friend.'

Perfect! Friend zone barriers activated.

'Uh, thanks Max.'

'Warren, don't be like that. I just don't see you romantically.' Turn this around, I'm utterly destroying his self-esteem. 'Besides, it didn't take you too long to get over it. You asked Brooke out the next day.'

Victoria can't remain silent. 'Wow, you little sh- player. Not even twenty four hours?'

Warren tries to mount a defense. 'Well, it's not like I was only into Max. I mean, Brooke's super cute too.'

'Too?'

'I mean...'

Victoria is unrelenting. 'We know what you mean. Just, really. Courting two girls at once?'

That's not fair. 'He's perfectly fine pursuing other people. What, I said no but still want him waiting in case I change my mind?'

It's still obvious how embarrassed Warren feels. 'Gee, thanks.'

'Warren, I may not like you like that, for all the reasons you know. Doesn't mean there isn't someone else.' A knowing smirk plays across her face. 'I can almost guarantee there's someone else.'

'Really? I mean, really Brooke?'

'Dude, master of space-time here.' Max raises her hands to her temples, adding a bit of theatrics. 'I see... I see a future. Where you ask out Brooke and she says yes. I see a nice drive up north. I see potential snuggles.'

The redness recedes from his cheeks, and a thoughtful whist sets in his eyes. A shake of his head grounds him back. 'Two issues though.'

What now?

'I, uh. It feels like cheating. Like, like insider trading. Isn't that a bit dishonest?'

Kate, after keeping herself so quiet, was almost forgotten. 'Brooke has been into you for, like, forever. I'm pretty sure you're the only one not seeing it.'

'Okay, fine. I-I'll ask her out. I'll do anything to stop this conversation. But the other thing. Friday...'

Oh. The Whirlpool. Storm 2.0. Yeah, talk about a mood killer. How do I-

'What, you think the world is ending so you stop living?'

Katie?

'Just because of what might happen? Gosh, the stuff that could happen is immeasurably more complicated than just Max's vision. If all you worry about is the 'ifs' you'll never live.'

A breath.

'You can't live your life in the future. Or the past, for that matter. Just the present. The past teaches you right from wrong. It gives you wisdom. That's what I learned. I can't keep letting the past dictate my actions.'

Her eyes become glassy.

'But you can't give the future power over you either. If all you do is look where you're going you'll just trip where you are. Don't ignore your future, buy don't try to control it. And definitely don't fear it.'

There's something going on with her. Something about this speech wearing Kate out. Warren doesn't seem to notice. Instead he finishes his coffee. Stands.

'I'm... gonna go and... find Brooke.'

He stares at the trio for a minute, though it's the table that seems to have most of his attention. With the universal guy head-shake for 'thank you', he leaves.

Kate stands up right after his departure, mumbling about a 'powder room'.

After.

'What's wrong with Kate?'

'Seriously Max?'

'Yeah. I know what's wrong. But that was weird. A bit... fatalistic, maybe. Something is up. Some new shit.'

'I agree. She was intense.'

Coffee is sipped in silence.

'Friday is getting closer.'

'Yup.'

'We have to start figuring out who that woman is you saw.'

'Yup.'

'You're awful calm about this whole this.'

'Yup. Like Kate said, gotta live in the moment. Can't worry too much about the future, gotta just do your best right now.' Another sip. 'Maybe I'll freak out when the caffeine hits.'

Wow, you really missed that opening.

Huh?

Victoria didn't bury the lead all that deep, you just walked right over it.

What are you talking about?

You'll figure it out as you and Vicky discuss the woman from the vision.

Yup.

THE HELL?!

Spit-takes are rarely seen outside romantic comedies. It's hard to get the timing correct for a laugh or realization to coincide with a mouth full of liquid.

Victoria gets to experience it first hand.

'What do- how do you know about the woman already?'

Dabbing at the few drops on her blouse, the pixie blonde smirks that knowing smirk Max absolutely hates. The one with the hint of teeth.

'You talked in your sleep.'

This is so unfair.

'I'm getting so tired of you reading my mind.'

'It's not too hard.'

'Har-har.' Another sip, to replace the lost one. 'So, what blanks do you have?'

'I don't know. All you kept saying was that you need to decide and that you need to find the brunette girl.'

No gun. No weird FM talk. No cliff-side conflict.

'I uh, don't remember much else. Except the, uh, the FM conversation. But most of that was a bit too confusing for me to really follow. The crux of it was about choices and decisions.'

How was it phrased?

'You decide on the destination, you choose a path. If that makes sense.'

'It... sorta does. Like, you want to be a photographer, or an artist. That's the destination. So you choose your schools, pick your subjects, all that stuff. Path versus goal.'

That was way to simple.

'It was deeper than that. The analogy works, but Future Max kept insisting all I do is choose and never decide. It's totally unfair. I decided to save everyone. I decided to let Chlo-'

Nope. Not right now.'Max, maybe... maybe not. Maybe you were only choosing from options. Maybe FM knows something about your power you don't yet. Maybe it's something... else.'

Ding ding ding, we have a winner! Only took someone spelling the whole thing out.

Why are you so jaded today?

This is the 'you' you have to look forward to today!

You kinda suck.

No. You kinda suck. Almost literally.

'What could the else be?'

'I don't know. It has to be something we can figure out soon, though. The other hints FM gives you aren't too hard to decode.'

Further discussion is put on hold as Kate returns. A very unusual expression graces her face.

She's pissed? Like Vicky covered in paint pissed. Or when her mom said... 'What happened? Is it your mom?'

Sitting with an expulsion of breath and stress, the nod confirms Max's suspicions.

'She's been texting me all morning. I didn't even know she knew how. Anyway, it's all about how I'm being ungrateful towards her and I'm setting a bad example for my sisters. She wants an apology for yelling at my father.'

Her volume begins to rise.

'And I already talked to him! I apologized. He did too. He's fine with it. If anything, he understands where I'm coming from. And my sisters... I mean, why do they even know I argued with Father? It has nothing to do with them.'

Still rising volume.

'So I told her. Told her that I'm not sorry about how I talk to her. Not sorry for my attitude. That if she has a problem, too bad. So, you know what she says. Don't come home. Just now, on the phone. Don't come home until I am contrite. Until I know my role. Her exact words!'

Standing, to match her agitation.

'It's bullshit!'

The cafeteria isn't too crowded. Maybe a dozen other students, mostly underclassmen. But when the religious girl curses in public, even when it's not too loud, heads turn.

Just... out in the open and everything?

Kate's anger hasn't subsided.

And she isn't cringing at the attention.

'Katie! Please, sit. Max and I are here. We'll help. Let's just talk about it.'

Finally the spectacle she is creating hit the petite girl. She sits with a thud, arms crossed and refusing to make eye contact.

'Katie, we're... we're here. We will help. Vicky and I may not be blood but we are your family. We are here to help you with this stuff.'

Wet eyes, but that's it. No crying, no shaking, no tension in her body. Like a rag doll.

'I know. I know you're here. I just need... I don't know. Just really need some air right now.'

'Want some company?'

'No. Just want some alone time. I'll see you in class later.' A hesitation as she stands up, pushing in the chair. 'We'll- talk later.'

The silence left in her wake is disproportionate to the usual volume of her presence.

'We shouldn't be worried, right?'

'I don't know, Max.'

Author's Aside:

So, updates have been sporadic. A combination of typing ona phone, retail small-business chaos during Christmas season, and a general inability to figure out the bridge between where this story is going and where it stands has made it a bit difficult. This was actually going to be a Christmas update but, finally finished, I decided it's better to be early instead of fretting over it for the next three days. Anyway, the season of buying is almost over so I expect to have more time to dedicate to my writing. Season's greetings and happy new year.